Let Love Rule (song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Let Love Rule
| cover = LK_LetLoveRule.jpg
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Lenny Kravitz
| album = Let Love Rule
| released = July 23, 1989
| recorded = 1988
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
- Psychedelic rock{{Cite podcast|url=https://slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade/2023/07/lenny-kravitz-bruno-mars-imitated-heroes|title= Lenny on Mars Edition|website=Hit Parade {{!}} Music History and Music Trivia|publisher=Slate|last=Molanphy|first=Chris|date=July 15, 2023|access-date=July 23, 2023}}
- neo-psychedelia{{Cite podcast|url=https://slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade/2023/07/lenny-kravitz-bruno-mars-imitated-heroes|title= Lenny on Mars Edition|website=Hit Parade {{!}} Music History and Music Trivia|publisher=Slate|last=Molanphy|first=Chris|date=July 15, 2023|access-date=July 23, 2023}}
| length = {{ubl|5:42 {{small|(album version)}}|3:42 {{small|(7" edit)}}}}
| label = Virgin
| writer = Lenny Kravitz
| producer = Lenny Kravitz
| prev_title = Spirit of the Forest
| prev_year = 1989
| next_title = I Build This Garden for Us
| next_year = 1990
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|TcU57tAKzng|"Lenny Kravitz - Let Love Rule (Official Music Video)"}}}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|TDDxBSvOYB8|"Lenny Kravitz - Let Love Rule 2009"}}}}
}}
"Let Love Rule" is the debut single by American musician Lenny Kravitz and appeared on his debut studio album, Let Love Rule (1989).{{cite web |title=Let Love Rule |url=https://www.discogs.com/Lenny-Kravitz-Let-Love-Rule/release/744344 |website=Discogs |accessdate=27 June 2018}} The song charted at number 23 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, and number 5 on the US Modern Rock charts. Then-wife Lisa Bonet appears in the video for the single.
In April 2009, a remix of the song by the French house duo Justice, was released{{cite web |url=http://www.kanyeuniversecity.com/blog/index.php?em3106=229797_-1__0_~0_-1_4_2009_0_0&eM= |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2009-04-28 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724001929/http://www.kanyeuniversecity.com/blog/index.php?em3106=229797_-1__0_~0_-1_4_2009_0_0&eM= |archivedate=2009-07-24 }} to help promote the 20th anniversary deluxe edition of the album. A music video for the remix was later released in October, directed by Keith Schofield. It depicts a main character interacting with a closing credits scroll.{{cite web |url= https://motionographer.com/2009/10/05/schofield-is-just-getting-started-where-others-might-end/|title= Schofield Is Just Getting Started Where Others Might End|date= October 5, 2009|access-date= December 17, 2023|first= Matt|last= Lambert|work= Motionographer}}
The song is available as a download for Rock Band and Guitar Hero 5.
Critical reception
David Giles from Music Week wrote, "Debut from a New York vocalist who has astonishingly managed to reproduce the classic sound of Al Green in full flight. His voice isn't quite as syrupy, naturally, but he's got the woozy Hammond organ and the fat brass down to a tee. And the song itself isn't at all bad either."{{cite magazine|first=David|last=Giles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1989/MW-1989-10-28.pdf|title=Singles|work=Music Week|date=1989-10-28|page=29|access-date=2023-03-13}} Pan-European magazine Music & Media selected track as a single of the week and called it "a lesson in classic pop." As per reviewer: "Kravitz's raucous voice, a cross between Elvis Costello and TT D'Arby is well supported by a rootsy organ, jangling guitar and 60s style drums. The saxophone solo is splendid as are the Beatles-style bass-riffs and backing vocals."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1989/M&M-1989-11-04.pdf#page=13|title=Previews: Singles: Lenny Kravitz – "Let Love Rule"|magazine=Music & Media|date=4 November 1989|page=24|volume=6|issue=44|location=Amsterdam|publisher=European Music Report BV|access-date=1 May 2025|via=World Radio History|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121122408/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1989/M&M-1989-11-04.pdf#page=13|archive-date=21 January 2025}}
Track listings
- CD / 12"
- "Let Love Rule" – 5:42
- "Empty Hands" – 4:42
- "Blues For Sister Someone" – 3:00
- "Flower Child" – 2:56
- CD / 12" another version
- "Let Love Rule" – 5:42
- "Cold Turkey" (Live) at Los Angeles – 5:25
- "My Precious Love" (Live) at New York – 3:00
- 7"
:A. "Let Love Rule"
:B. "Empty Hands"
- Limited Edition 10"
:A. "Let Love Rule" – 5:39
:B1. "If Six Were Nine" – 6:44
:B2. "My Precious Love" – 7:08
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Chart (1990)
!Peak |
|---|
| {{singlechart|Australia|36|artist=Lenny Kravitz|song=Let Love Rule|accessdate=July 3, 2022|refname="AUS"}} |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-08-18.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|date=1990-08-18|page=|accessdate=2021-06-20|magazine=Music & Media}}
|align="center"|92 |
| {{singlechart|Dutch40|23|artist=Lenny Kravitz|song=Let Love Rule}} |
| {{singlechart|Dutch100|26|artist=Lenny Kravitz|song=Let Love Rule}} |
| UK Singles (OCC)
|align="center"|39 |
| US Billboard Hot 100
|align="center"|89 |
Members
- Lenny Kravitz – vocals, guitar, bass, drums
- Henry Hirsch – organ
- Karl Denson – saxophone
References
{{Lenny Kravitz singles}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Song recordings produced by Lenny Kravitz
Category:Songs written by Lenny Kravitz
Category:Virgin Records singles
Category:Music videos directed by Keith Schofield
{{1980s-single-stub}}